KUMUL great Stanley Gene has been appointed as the new head coach of Championship 1 side Gateshead Thunder.Gene, 39, a former Papua New Guinea international, has been on the coaching staff of Hull KR, coaching their Under-19 academy squad.“I am delighted to join Gateshead Thunder. I have been increasingly impressed with the lads and what Kevin Neighbour (former head coach) has achieved,” Gene said.“My ambition is to take the club to the next level and to continue the hard work that has been put in here already. I’ll be up in the North East soon, and look forward to meeting the fans and sponsors.”Gene succeeds Neighbour in the role, after his departure at the end of the season.

Neighbour led Thunder to a seventh place finish, with four wins and six bonus point defeats in the 16-game campaign.

Thunder managing director Keith Christie said: “Myself and the Gateshead Thunder Board are delighted to have Stan on board.“My ambition is to take the club to the next level and to continue the hard work that has been put in here already.“He will inherit a squad of lads that have been moulded into a team by Kevin Neighbour, and our hope is that he can take us further.”